Pet Seizures Specialist Pierre SD

Practitioner's Corner—About Pets: Epileptic Seizures

Provided by: 

By Katherine A. Kahn, DVM

Q: My three-year-old beagle has been having epileptic seizures about once a month. Are there any alternatives to putting him on phenobarbital?

A: For a dog like yours, whose seizures happen less than twice a month, it‘s probably okay to hold off on medication and explore some alternatives. (If the seizures become more frequent, though, or last longer than a couple of minutes, be sure to follow up with your vet right away.)

Stressful or exciting events—such as a trip to the groomer—can sometimes trigger seizures. Start keeping a diary of your dog’s daily activities so you can identify the stress points, and then try to minimize them.

Another strategy that might help is to remove any chemicals that can increase the chances of a seizure from your dog’s environment. Let him take a three- to six-month break from flea or tick products, for example, and don’t use pesticides on your lawn or garden (and make sure he doesn’t visit neighbors who do).

Finally, give Chinese herbal medicine a try; some of the preparations may make your dog’s nervous system less sensitive to emotional and environmental triggers. If your dog eventually must take phenobarbital, the herbs can help prevent the drug from harming his liver.

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